Prescott seeking Cup with Killarney winner High Secret bids to provide Sir Mark Prescott with another lucrative victory in the Betfred Mobile Old Borough Cup at Haydock on Saturday. The master of Heath House is renowned for his placing of horses and this four-year-old was sent to Ireland for his latest appearance, winning a minor conditions event at Killarney under Patrick Mullins. High Secret has already won three times this season and is well fancied to add to his tally in this weekend's ultra-competitive handicap. Prescott said: "He won well in Ireland, as he should have done. "A mile and six (furlongs) is his minimum, so we'll see how he gets on. "As long as the ground isn't extreme either way he should be fine." Roger Varian is hoping for some improvement in underfoot conditions to allow Battersea to take his chance. The son of Galileo won a couple of similar races at Ascot last summer, but has failed to get seriously competitive in two starts this season. Speaking on his website www.varianstable.com, the trainer said: " Battersea is in great form. We are looking to run but if the ground remains on the easy side he would be a doubt." Talented dual-purpose performer Pearl Castle makes his second appearance for Karl Burke, having previously been trained by John Quinn. He made a decent debut for the Leyburn handler when fifth at York a fortnight ago. Burke said: "We were very happy with the run at York and think he's come on well for it since. "It will be his first run over the trip for us, but we think he'll improve for it. "The trip, the track and the ground should all be ideal, so hopefully he'll run very well." Hassle has run well in defeat the last twice, having returned to Clive Cox's yard following a brief but unsuccessful spell jumping with Nicky Henderson. Cox reports his charge to be in rude health, but fears his gelding's chance has been compromised by his wide starting berth. "He's in great form and he's going there off the back of a couple of nice runs, but he hasn't been blessed with the best of draws," said the trainer. "He's a high-class performer and the ground will be ideal. We'll just have to see how he gets on from that draw." Nakeeta has run well to fill the runner-up spot the last twice, the latest of those efforts coming at Hamilton little over a week ago. Scottish trainer Iain Jardine said: " He ran a great race at Hamilton the other day in what was a good race with a lot of in-form horses in it. "We haven't done a lot with him since, but he's eaten up and seems in great form. Why not run them when they're right? "What he wants is to be covered up and a good gallop and come through horses, so everything should be in his favour on Saturday. "He's on a real upward curve, he's got no weight on his back and we're quietly optimistic of a big run."
